Map and blueprint holder



Oct 18, 1955 D. l.. vANlMAN 2,720,718

MAP AND BLUEPRINT HOLDER Filed Feb. 13, 1955 INVENToR. @f4/v Kw1/WAM United States Patent Office 2,720,718 Patented. Oct 18,. 1.955,-

This invention relates to supporting devices for sheets,

and more particularly to an improved map and blueprint holder.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and imp roved supporting device for rollable sheets, such as maps, blueprints and the like, the improved holder being simple in construction, being light in weight, and being foldable to a compact condition when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sheet-holding device for supporting maps, blueprints, and similar rollable sheets in stretched condition for the examination or inspection thereof, the improved holder being inexpensive to manufacture, being durable in construction, and being easy to manipulate.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an improved sheet-holding device according to the present invention, shown in operative condition and supporting a map.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of a fragmentary portion of the sheet holder illustrated in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional detail view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the sheet holder of Figure 1 in its folded, inoperative condition.

Referring to the drawings, the improved sheet holder is designated generally at 11 and comprises a tubular member 12 in which is telescopically engaged a rod member 13, the tubular member 12 being provided with an internal shoulder which is engageable with an enlarged head 14 on the rod 13 to prevent the complete removal of the rod from the tubular member 12. The head 14 is slidable on the inside surface of the tubular member 12. Secured on the end portion of the rod 13 is a rst leaf spring clip 15, and secured on the opposite end portion of the tubular sleeve 12 is a second leaf spring 16 which opposes the leaf spring 15, said leaf springs 15 and 16 being employed to clampingly engage a marginal portion of a sheet, such as for example, a map 17 to hold the marginal portion of the map on the extended arm defined by the tubular member 12 and the telescopic arm 13.

As shown in Figure 3, the rod 13 may be of tubular material and the end thereof may be formed with slots in which is received a bar member 1S, said bar member being connected solidly to the rod 13 at right angles by a transverse pin 20. Pivoted to the end of the bar member 18, as by a transverse pin element 21 is an elongated tubular sleeve member 22 in which is telescopically engaged a tubular rod member 23, said rod member being formed with the enlarged head 24 slidably received in the sleeve 22 and which is retained in said sleeve by the provision of an annular internal end shoulder 25 in the sleeve 22, preventing complete withdrawal of the telescopic tubular rod member 23 from said sleeve. Telescopically engaged in the tubular rod 23 in a similar manner is a further rod element 26 to the end of which is pivotally connected a clip 27, said clip being of a conventional type, as illustrated in Figure 4, and being provided with the gripping jaws 28 and 29. The clip 27 is connected to the rod 26 by a pivotal connection comprising a socket element 30 which rotatably receives the head of a pivot pin 31 rigidly secured to the rod 26, whereby rotation of the clip 27 is permitted relative to the rod 26. As shown in Figure l, the clip 27 is employed to grippingly engage the side marginal portion of a sheet, such as the side marginal portion of the map 17.

Solidly connected to the end of the sleeve member 12 at right angles is a bar member 18', the end of the sleeve 12 being formed with opposed slots in which the bar member 18 is held by pinvmember 20'. Pivotally connected to the end of the bar member 18 is a sleeve member 22' in which is telescopically engaged a tubular rod 23', and telescopically engaged in said tubular rod 23 is a rod member 26' to the end of which is pivotally connected a clip member 27 which is identical to the clip member 27 provided on the rod 26. The clip member 27 is employed to grippingly engage the side marginal portion of the sheet or map 17 opposite the clip member 27.

As is clearly apparent from Figure 1, the device may be arranged so that the top marginal portion of the sheet or map 17 is grippingly engaged by the spring clips 15 and 16 and is thus held on the telescopic elements 12 and 13. The respective telescopic side arms defined by the members 22, 23, 26 and 22',v 23', 26 are then arranged adjacent the respective side marginal edges of the map or sheet 17 and the lower corner portions of the map are grippingly engaged by the spring clips 27 and 27. The map 17 is thus supported in a stretched position whereby it may be readily examined or inspected.

When not in use, the device may be folded up into the position shown in Figure 5. Thus, the clips 27 and 27 may be disengaged from the side marginal portions of the sheet such as the map or blueprint, the side arms may be telescoped to their shortest lengths, said side arms being then swung parallel to the center arm, as in Figure 5, and the sheet 17 may then be rolled with the device still attached to the end margin thereof by the spring clips 15 and 16. The device may therefore be left attached to the blueprint or map and the sheet may be rolled on the device, if so desired.

While a specific embodiment of an improved sheetholding device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as dened by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A sheet holder comprising a rst elongated member, clip means on said first member for grippingly engaging a marginal portion of a sheet, a slot at each end of said member, a bar solidly connected in each slot at a right angle to said member, respective second and third elongated members pivotally connected one to each of said bars, and additional clip means on said second and third members for grippingly engaging the side marginal portions of the sheet.

2. A sheet holder comprising a first telescopic elon-i gated member, respective nwardly directed leaf spring clips secured on the opposite end portions of said lirst member for grippingly engaging a marginal portion of a sheet, a slot at each end of said member, a bar solidly connected in each slot at a right angle to said member,

vrespective second and third telescopic elongated members pivotally connected one to each of said bars, and rcspecl tive cl'ips pivotally securedon the tree ends of said second UNITED STATES PATENTS Hansburg Apr; 13, 1909V Fischer Aug. 15, 1916 Davis 'Feb. 28,' 1922 Jones Mar. 2, 1937 Weissman Oct. 3, 1950 Y 

